Alexander Watkins Terrell:

An Inventory of Papers at the Texas State Archives,
1890-1912

The Alexander Watkins
Terrell papers contain correspondence (mainly letters received), printed
material, literary productions, scrapbook material, legal documents, and
financial documents, covering the last two decades of Terrell's life,
1890-1912. The bulk of the material is incoming correspondence, dating
especially from the years of his diplomatic mission in the Ottoman Empire
(1893-1897); the literary productions also heavily reflect that period of his
career. There is another, smaller surge of documentary activity in 1905, the
year of the Terrell Election Law. The Ottoman material is richest in describing
the Turkish anti-Armenianism and anti-Americanism of the time; in addition,
there are scattered references to commercial and education exchanges with the
United States.

Alexander Watkins Terrell was born November 3, 1827 in Patrick County,
Virginia. In 1832 his family moved to Cooper County, Mississippi. After
graduating from the University of Missouri, he read law at Booneville, and was
admitted to the Missouri bar in 1849. His first law practice was in St. Joseph.
After moving to Austin, Texas (1852), he became judge of the Second Judicial
District (1857-1862). In 1863, he enlisted as major in the 1st Texas Cavalry
Regiment, Arizona Brigade; after promotion to lieutenant colonel and then
colonel, he commanded Terrell's Texas Cavalry, participating in the battles of
Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. In 1865, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier
general. Fleeing to Mexico at the end of the civil War, he served briefly under
Emperor Maximilian. Upon his return to Texas, he practiced law in Houston for a
short time before retiring to his plantation in Robertson County. In 1871 he
returned to Austin. From 1876 to 1883 he served four terms in the Texas Senate,
and in 1891 he was elected to the first of three terms in the Texas House of
Representatives. President Grover Clevel and appointed him minister
plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire (1893-1897). He was elected as state
representative twice more, in 1903 and 1905. Among the legislative bills he
authored were the Railroad Commission bill, the bill which donated public land
to build the capitol, the bill requiring jurors to be literate, and the Terrell
Election Law of 1905 (which began the system of Direct Primaries). From 1909 to
1911, he was on the University of Texas board of regents, and was instrumental
in raising funds to build the library building. He was also chairman of the
publications committee and, at the time of his death, president, of the Texas
State Historical Association. His first wife, and mother of his five children,
was Ann Elizabeth Boulding of Missouri, who died in 1860; his second wife,
Sarah D. Mitchell of Robinson County, Texas, died in 1871; his third wife, and
widow, was Anne Holiday Anderson Jones. Alexander W. Terrell died in Mineral
Wells on September 9, 1912, and was buried in the state cemetery. Terrell
County was named in his honor.

The Alexander Watkins Terrell Papers contain correspondence (mainly
letters received), printed material, literary productions, scrapbook material,
legal documents, and financial documents, covering the last two decades of
Terrell's life (1890-1912). The bulk of the material is incoming
correspondence, dating especially from the years of his diplomatic mission in
the Ottoman Empire (1893-1897); the literary productions also heavily reflect
that period of his career. There is another, smaller surge of documentary
activity in 1905, the year of the Terrell Election Law. The Ottoman material is
richest in describing the Turkish anti-Armenianism and anti-Americanism of the
time; in addition, there are scattered references to commercial and educational
exchanges with the United States. A handful of letters are in French.
Approximately one-third of the letters received cover Terrell's Texas years
after he returned from his overseas post (1898-1912). The legal documents
concern land in Travis County, and there are numerous financial documents, most
cancelled checks.

Correspondence,
1890-1912, undated, 0.2 cubic ft.

Papers are correspondence, dating from 1890 to 1912, of Alexander
Watkins Terrell. The bulk of the material is incoming letters, especially
dating from the years of his diplomatic mission in the Ottoman Empire,
1893-1897. Subjects covered include Turkish anti-Americanism and
anti-Armenianism and the Terrell Election Law of 1905.

Papers are letters received by Alexander Watkins Terrell, dating
1890-1912, and undated. The bulk of the material covers the years of his
diplomatic mission in the Ottoman Empire, 1893-1897. Subjects covered include
Turkish anti-Americanism and anti-Armenianism and the Terrell Election Law of
1905.

Thomas W. Cridler, third assistant Secretary of State
of the U.S.,
[re: commencement address
at University of Texas: "Land, Its Individual Ownership
and Culture, the Surest Safeguard of Free Government"], August 2, 1898, typescript

Printed material,
1898, undated,fractional

Papers are printed materials, dating from 1898 and undated, which
belonged to Alexander Watkins Terrell. Included are a guest pass to the
Metropolitan Club, a newspaper clipping on the "European Conspiracy," and a
broadside entitled "What Senator Coke Said of John Ireland in 1877."

Literary productions,
1894-1905, undated, fractional

Papers are literary productions, including notes, poetry, drafts,
memorandum, and a news release, dating from 1894 to 1905, with some undated
material. Several items relate to Terrell's time in Turkey as a diplomat. One
document is about Terrell's candidacy for the state legislature. Alexander
Watkins Terrell wrote one of the poems, the author of the other poems is
unknown.

Scrapbook material,
1896, 1934, undated, fractional

Papers are scrapbook material, dating from 1896, 1934, and
undated. Included are notes to accompany visual material on Ottoman Empire
(visual materials not present in papers), proposed text for plaque honoring
Alexander Watkins Terrell for service to the University of Texas, and a
newspaper photograph from Terrell's service as U.S. Minister in
Constantinople.

Financial documents,
1893-1905, undated, fractional

Papers are financial documents of Alexander Watkins Terrell,
dating from 1893 to 1905. Material includes a credit report, promissory notes,
bills, receipts, memoranda, a list of drafts from the United States State
Department, statements, and cancelled checks.